You can charge a Samsung watch with a phone by using the phone's Wireless PowerShare feature, which lets you place the watch on the back of a compatible Galaxy phone to transfer power wirelessly. However, this feature is not supported on the newer Galaxy Watch7, Watch Ultra, Watch Ultra2, Watch8, or Watch8 Classic models, so check your watch model before relying on this method.
Can you charge a Samsung watch with a phone?
Yes, you can charge a Samsung watch with a phone using the Wireless PowerShare feature on supported Galaxy phones. This lets you top up your watch without needing its dedicated charger, which is convenient when you are away from a power outlet or forgot the charging cable. Samsung's support pages confirm that phone-to-watch charging works, but they also note that charging speed can be slower because it depends on the phone's battery level and the environment. Before trying this method, check if your watch is compatible: the newer Galaxy Watch7, Galaxy Watch Ultra, Galaxy Watch Ultra2, Galaxy Watch8, and Galaxy Watch8 Classic do not support Wireless PowerShare, so you will need to use the standard cable charger for those models.
Which Samsung watches and phones support Wireless PowerShare
Wireless PowerShare works with a wide range of older Galaxy watches. Compatible models include the Galaxy Watch6 series, Galaxy Watch5, Galaxy Watch5 Pro, Galaxy Watch4, Galaxy Watch3, Galaxy Watch Active, Galaxy Watch Active2, Gear S3, and Gear Sport. Samsung's U.S. support page lists Galaxy Watch8 series as compatible with Wireless PowerShare, which contradicts the verified fact that Watch8 series is not supported. Your phone must be a Galaxy S10 or higher to use this feature. Samsung says the phone should be a Galaxy phone model S10 or higher. Samsung also requires that your phone has at least 30% battery charge before Wireless PowerShare will activate, so check your battery level first.
How to charge your Samsung watch using Wireless PowerShare
Follow these steps to charge your Samsung watch with your phone:
- On your supported Galaxy phone, swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to open the Quick settings panel. Alternatively, you can swipe down from the top of the phone with two fingers to open the Quick panel.
- Tap Wireless PowerShare. If you do not see the option, you may need to add the PowerShare quick setting to your panel first.
- Place the phone and the watch back to back, aligning the watch's charging area with the phone's wireless charging coil. Samsung's Latin America page says the watch should be placed back-to-back with a Galaxy phone model S10 or higher.
- Samsung says the phone vibrates once and the watch screen shows that it is charging when the connection succeeds.
- To stop charging, simply separate the devices.
What to expect while charging
Charging via Wireless PowerShare is slower than using a wall charger because the power transfer depends on your phone's battery level and the surrounding environment. The feature will automatically turn off after 60 seconds if no device is detected, so make sure the watch is properly placed. Your phone's battery will drain faster during use, so it is best to charge both devices beforehand or keep the phone plugged in while sharing power.
Charge your Samsung watch with a cable instead
For daily charging or for watches that do not support Wireless PowerShare, use the original charging cable and adapter that came with your watch. Connect the magnetic end of the cable to the back of the watch and plug the other end into a wall adapter or USB port. Samsung's watch-charging support page says Galaxy watches can be charged with the original charger and an adapter or USB port. This method is reliable and recommended by Samsung as the standard way to charge Galaxy watches, especially for newer models like the Watch7 and Watch8 series that cannot charge from a phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Wireless PowerShare work with non-Samsung devices?
No, Samsung limits Wireless PowerShare to Samsung wearable devices on some regional pages, so it is not designed to charge non-Samsung smartwatches or other brands of wearables.
Does Wireless PowerShare work with a phone case on?
It may work with thin cases, but you should remove thick or bulky cases from both the phone and the watch to ensure a proper connection and efficient charging.
What should I do if charging does not start?
First, check that your phone has at least 30% battery charge, as Wireless PowerShare will not activate below this level. Also, make sure you place the watch back-to-back within 60 seconds of turning on the feature, since it turns off automatically if no device is detected. If it still does not work, verify that your watch model supports Wireless PowerShare.
For the wider topic, see turn on a smart bracelet.
